Development of a model of silicon carbide thermodestruction for preparation of graphite layers

A three-stage scheme of the silicon carbide thermodestruction resulting in surface graphitization, which was proposed earlier (based on structural studies), is discussed. A theoretical analysis shows, however, that this process occurs in two stages, namely, thermodesorption of silicon atoms from the two outer Si-C bilayers followed by condensation of carbon atoms on the Si(0001) face of silicon carbide, thus giving rise to the formation of a two-dimensional graphite structure (graphene).